Corn-popper.



S. L. LONG.

CORN POPPER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 18, I910.

994 014o Pa en ed May 30, 1911.

SIDNEY L. LONG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CORN-POPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

App1ication filed August 18, 1910. Serial No. 577,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY L. LONG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCorn-Poppers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple inexpensive andhighly efficient corn popper, and to this end the invention consists ofthe novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described anddefined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in itspreferred form, like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showingthe improved popper; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the popper with someparts broken away; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line m mof Fig. 1, some parts being broken away; Fig. 1 is a fragmentary viewpartly in plan and partly in section on the line 09* 00 of Fig. 8; Fig.5 is an enlarged section taken on line 00 m of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is adetail showing one of the shaft connecting devices.

The body or corn receptacle of the popper, as preferably constructed, ismade up of a pair of thin sheet metal disks, or heads 1 and 2, and areticulate, or perforate cylindrical shell 3, the latter of which, asshown, is made from wire screen, but may be otherwise formed, and insome instances, will be made of perforated sheet metal. The margins ofthe heads 1 and 2 are flanged and telescoped over the ends of theperforated cylinder 3, and they are both rigidly secured to an operatingshaft 4, the other end of which is bent to form a crank 5, and is provided with a swivel finger piece 6. Preferably, the operating shaft 4:is formed with a detachable end section 7, to which the heads 1 and 2are secured in a novel manner presently to be noted. Said section 7 isof larger diameter than the outer body portion of the shaft 4:, and thelatter has a threaded end which is screwed into a threaded seat in theadjacent end of the said section 7 as best shown in Fig. 4:. This sameend of the shaft section 7 is formed with a thin projecting head, orflange 8, which, at diametrically opposite points is cut to form barbs9, that are passed through perforations in the head 1, and are clenchedat the inner side thereof, so as to thereby rigidly secure the said head1, to the shaft section 7. Also the cutting of the barbs 9 formsdiametrically opposite seats 10, in the outer portion of the flange orhead 8, that are adapted to be engageable by a pin or stud 11 projectedfrom the end of a tubular hand piece 12, preferably of wood, which ismounted for both rotary and sliding movements on the body of the shaft1.

The outer head 2 has a segmental opening 18 that is normally closed by asegmental door 14, which is pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of theshaft section 7, the said end of the shaft section 7 being also passedthrough an aXialperforation in the said head 2. The said head 2 issecured to the shaft section 7, preferably by a small metal clip 15,having a pronged end 16, that embraces said shaft section 7, beingpreferably engaged with notches cut therein, as best shown in Fig. (3.The projecting end of the clip 15, is passed outward through aperforation in the head 2, and is bent over to afford an abutment withwhich the end flange 17 of the segmental door 14. is adapted to engage,when the door is closed, to thereby tightly press the outer edge of thedoor against the incut rim of the head 2, so that the said door will notbe accidentally opened. For moving the door, it is preferably pro videdwith a loosely attached wire loop 18 which affords a finger piece. Thismetal loop affords a finger piece that will not burn and at the sametime, on account of its small diameter, and its loose connection withthe door, will cool very rapidly, when the popper is removed from theflame.

WVhen the corn is placed within the reticulate popping cylinder orreceptacle, the popper should be held with its operating shaftapproximately horizontal and with the cylinder shell 3 in or close tothe source of heat, such as a gas flame. The device will be supportedchiefly by the hand which holds the sleevelike hand piece 12 and thecylinder will be rotated by the other hand which engages the crankfinger piece 6. The shaft 4 may be projected through a supporting handpiece 12, to any desired extent. lVhen the corn has been popped, or atany other time when the cylindrical receptacle is hot and it is desiredto open or close the door 14, the said cylinder may be held againstrotation simply by turning the shaft at into an up right position andengaging the pin 11 of the sleeve 12, with one or the other of thenotches, or seats 10, formed in the head 8, of the shaft section 7. Thesliding movement of the sleeve 12 on the shaft 4 is therefore, in thisarrangement, of the utmost importance as it permits the sleeve or handpiece 12 to perform a double function, to Wit, that of a support for thepopper While it is being rotated, and as a means for holding the popperagainst rotation While its door is being opened or cl0sed,.at a timeWhen the body of the popper is hot, and hence, cannot be engaged Withthe hand.

The sleeve 12, as already stated, is preferably of Wood, but it may beof any suitable material, but should, nevertheless, be a poor conductorof heat.

Poppers of the character above described, have been made and put intoactual use, and have been found highly eiiicient for the purposes had inview. By the rotary movement of the perforate or reticulate holder,

the corn will be rolled over and over, thoroughly mixed, and all partsthereof brought into contact With the flame.

That I claim is:

1. The combination With a shaft provided With'means for rotating thesame, of a popping receptacle applied to said shaft and having a movabledoor, a hand piece mounted to normally rotate on said shaft, and meansfor locking, said hand piece at Will against rotation in respect to saidpopping receptacle.

2. The combination With a shaft having a crank at one end, of aperforate popping receptacle applied to the other end of said shaft andprovided with an oscillatory segmental door, and a hand piece mounted torotate and slide on said shaft and having interlocking engagement Withsaid receptaole, for holding the same against rotation While the doorthereof is being opened or closed. 7

3. The combination With a shaft having a crank at one end, of a poppingreceptacle made up of a pair of laterally spaced heads and a perforatecylinder held by the said heads, said heads being secured to said shaft,one of the said heads having a segmental pivoted door and the other ofthe said heads having a notched hub, and a hand piece in the form of asleeve mounted to rotate and slide on said shaft and provided with a projecting pin or stud engageable With the notched hub of the saidreceptacle WVllllG the door is being opened or closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SIDNEY L. LONG.

Witnesses:

Arron V. SWANsoN, I HARRY D. KILooRn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

